To celebrate his family’s history with Southeast Missouri State University and show his support of the Transforming Lives comprehensive campaign, Jason LeGrand has funded a new endowment through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. The Jason LeGrand Family Endowment for Special Collections and Archives at Kent Library ensures continued support for preserving and sharing the University’s rich history and cultural heritage. This gift reflects LeGrand’s deep connection to SEMO and his family’s longstanding legacy at the University.
"Southeast has been a meaningful part of my family’s story for generations," said LeGrand. "Through this endowment, I hope to support the University’s efforts to preserve its history and keep these invaluable materials accessible to students, researchers and the community."
The Special Collections and Archives at Kent Library house over 500 Regional History Collections, the University Archives dating back to 1873, and the Rare Book Room. These resources serve as a vital record of the University’s past and the broader cultural heritage of Southeast Missouri.
LeGrand’s family ties to SEMO span generations. His grandmother, Christina King LeGrand, attended in 1928. His father, Larry LeGrand, married to Brenda Scott LeGrand, attended the University, as did Larry’s two brothers, Bob and Bill. Jason’s mother, Evelyn Harbison LeGrand, attended Southeast, worked in Kent Library and lived in Towers shortly after it opened. Other family members, including his uncle Gary Harbison, and his wife Cathy Burke Harbison, and godparents Bob and Nan Beussink, have also shared strong connections to SEMO.
LeGrand’s passion for Special Collections and Archives began in 2019 when he established the Neal E. Boyd Collection in honor of the late SEMO alumnus and performer. Over the years, his contributions have expanded to include memorabilia from the Delta-Phi chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha and materials from JoAnn Emerson’s first congressional campaign.
LeGrand and his husband, Dr. Eric Burkholder, continue to support SEMO through various philanthropic efforts. They have sponsored the Sesquicentennial Ball, offered a matching gift challenge for SEMO Giving Day and established the Jason LeGrand and Dr. Eric Burkholder Endowed Scholarship for physics education.
In 2025, LeGrand was appointed Global Director of Development for the American Physical Society, an international science nonprofit with 50,000 members in the U.S. and around the world in 115 countries. Prior to that, he spent 26 years in university advancement at some of the world’s leading institutions, including Cornell University, the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, Berkeley.
A recipient of the Young Alumni Merit Award, LeGrand is actively involved with SEMO as a member of the President’s Council, Horizon Club, Redhawks Club and KRCU Circle. He also serves on the board of directors for the Bert and Mary Ann Kellerman Foundation for Historic Preservation. LeGrand is also currently serving his second term on the Southeast Missouri University Foundation board of directors and is a member of the Transforming Lives Campaign Steering Committee.
Philanthropy at SEMO allows donors to make a lasting impact on areas they are passionate about, whether in STEM, the performing arts, library resources, civic engagement, admissions or in memory of a loved one. The generosity of alumni and supporters like LeGrand helps ensure that students have access to invaluable opportunities and that the university’s rich history remains preserved for generations to come. To learn more about giving opportunities, visit semo.edu/ways-to-give.
